All news

Ukrainian forces open fire during rotation of IAEA experts at ZNPP — official

On Thursday, it was reported that the IAEA managed to rotate its experts on the fourth attempts

MOSCOW, March 3. /TASS/. Russian security officers came under directed fire at the contact line while meeting IAEA inspectors rotating personnel at the Zaporozhye Nuclear power Plant, Rosenergoatom CEO Advisor Renat Karchaa said Friday.

"Our security officers, who provided the entire process of meeting IAEA inspectors, came under heavy rifle fire. Furthermore, a Ukrainian machinegun joined in. The fire was accurate, it is by sheer miracle that two our security officers survived," Karchaa said on Russian TV.

He specified that seven tripwire mines were discovered and defuse along the Russian mission’s route.

According to Karchaa, even representatives of Ukrainian security agencies that escorted the mission "did not understand what was going on," which indicates "total absence of control" over the situation at this part of the contact line.

On Thursday, Karchaa told TASS that the IAEA managed to rotate its experts on the fourth attempts. According to the official, the UN Department of Safety and Security disrupted the rotation three times, despite Russia providing all guarantees of security.